After a morning session in the dining room with poetry, nursery rhymes and Christmas Caroling, the Educator John Dupuis said: “Let’s review. What is the name of Santa’s reindeer?” Then, we heard the residents call out “Dasher,” “Dancer,” “Prancer,” “Vixen,” “Comet,” “Cupid,” “Donner,” “Blitzen.” One said: “Oh, we forgot Rudolph!!”

What fun we had! One of my classmates, Al Fruge, his wife, Linda, and granddaughter Jas helped out. Al plays the accordian. Like many of the Fruge men in his family, playing music and singing comes natural to Al. My ever faithful sister, Mavis Arnaud Fruge, dressed in a beautiful Christmas sweater and wearing a classy hat, was there to keep us on track and to make us laugh! Her next door neighbor, Ramona Zerangue Dupuis, was also in attendance. Ramona’s mother, Ms. Lillie Zerangue is a resident and Ramona and her Mom are great participants in our weekly gatherings.

In November 2016, at the Nonco Apostleship of Prayer Meeting, I met John Dupuis. He was familiar to me. I don’t remember where but I know we have met before. He is a new member of the J. M. Morrow Community and I was eager to make a connection.

And, so on a cold rainy day, I went into J. Michael Morrow Nursing Home and John was sitting in the lobby reading his newspaper. I said: “John, there's no better time than the present. Can we visit?” John accepted my invitation and we made our way to his neat, cozy room where John introduced me to his roommate, Joseph Theriot. Joseph is someone John has known all of his life. It is a good way to spend your days—with a lifelong friend. John says Joseph is very good about letting him watch TV all night long, if he wants. And, Joseph chimes in: “It doesn’t bother me at all. The sound makes me sleep.” These two gentlemen make sharing a room fun.

Sitting in John’s comfortable chair, conversation flowed easily. He has had an interesting and enjoyable life. Living on the Atchafalaya River as a child and attending elementary school in their little red school house was fun. Next came days at Cecilia High and it is evident that John has enjoyed his youth. In 1951, after graduating from high school, John enlisted in the Air Force. Following military service, John moved to New York with some of his Air Force friends. John soon found work with F.H. McGraw and Company.

When John left the big city, he moved back to Louisiana. His friend Jimmy Comeaux worked in Baton Rouge for George Rich Consulting and John soon found work in a steel plant in Baton Rouge. John remains anti-union and when the employees were pushed to join a union, John expressed his opinion and quickly got fired. In explanation, he said: “I have a big mouth.”

A friend from Lafayette encouraged John to make Houston his next home. John was employed by Southern Pacific Railroad. This was a job John thoroughly enjoyed. John said: “It was wonderful and I worked there for four years.” He worked as the secretary for the Southern Pacific Freight Traffic Manager. The office of the Freight Traffic Manager was a train car and John was the secretary. He remembers riding along in an office on rails. He had great secretarial skills and still knows his shorthand. As we talked and I struggled to take notes, John wrote each word or phrase we spoke in shorthand using his finger and the bed next to where he sat.

At some point in John’ life, he decided he would attend college. He earned a degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from SLI, now the University of Louisiana, Lafayette. Upon graduating, he was hired in his home parish by the St. Martin Parish School Board, in the Speech Therapy Program. Later, he supervised teachers who were in the Grammar and Literature part of the educational system.

John remembers with fondness a Cecilia High educator, Mr. Clephe “C.D.” Guilbeau, father of Hardy Drug Store pharmacist, Larry Guilbeau and the grandfather of physical therapist at J. M. Morrow Nursing Home, Todd Guilbeau. Mr. Guilbeau’s daughters, Fran Duplechin, also an educator, and her twin sister, Phyllis Biglane, were very good students, he recalls.

Another one of John’s former students who John mentioned was Fran's sister-in-law, Karen Duplechin. John proudly remembers that Karen represented Cecilia High at State Rally and placed First in Literature!

John enjoyed his career as an educator, and supervisor of the Speech and Language Arts teachers of St. Martin Parish.

A friend of my mine had just lost her handsome 20-year-old son, to a drug overdose. He was an LSU student with a loving family and lots of friends. That was on my mind. I asked John, the Educator, if he had imagined a future where drug use would be so prevalent. In explanation John calmly answered: “Yes! When you and I were young, we had alcohol when we wanted a high. It was the choice because that is what we had. Time changes things. It is the Growth of Life with New Horizons. The world is a big place and lots is going on.”

Should we legalize marijuana? and John says “Yes!”

With that settled, I asked: “Tell me about Christmas in Henderson.”

John explains that they were wealthy, comparatively speaking. Having started as a small family living on a boat, the Dupuis family soon consisted of 9 children, the parents and one aunt who had never married. They built a home and made a memorable living on the Atchafalaya River in St. Martin Parish. John said that their home was beautifully decorated by his mother. He fondly tells me: “She was very intelligent and ingenious.” She cut their cedar Christmas Tree from the surrounding woods. She intertwined ribbons in the branches, hung treasured ornaments and soon the cedar scent filled their home.

During the period of history when John was 3 or 4, nearby stores didn’t exist and traveling long distances was nearly impossible. Shopping for items was accomplished by perusing catalogs. John’s father shopped from Sears or Montgomery Ward catalogs. John’s most memorable Christmas gift from Santa arrived in a huge box. John remembers that his brother Frank, who was two years older, helped to open the box. When the two saw all the interesting pieces, Frank wanted a few of the items. But, all of the pieces were assembled to create a red tricycle for John.

It is lovely to visit with John and I was happy to see him at the home of Mickey and Gerry Lastrapes. Each year, they invite J. M. Morrow Nursing Home residents to come for eggnog and cake. The eggnog is made by Jo Ann Olivier Miller, the daughter of nursing home resident Lucille Broussard Olivier, Mrs. Alton Olivier. It was John’s first visit there and I enjoyed sitting around chatting with John and the residents and nurses. Gerry was the head of nursing at J. Michael for many years but is retired now. She still loves to see the residents and fellow nurses and continues the tradition of having the residents over for the Holidays.

Christmas is still 10 days away and we have already shared some very special moments. John showed me a Christmas card which was created for him by a student in the French Immersion Program in Cecilia. The students visited with the residents today. It is an activity that the residents really enjoy. They quickly bond with the young students. Next Thursday is Christmas La Table Francais with Mavis Arnaud Fruge. Come join us. We are easy to find. Just listen for the laughter. Our Holiday fun continues.

You are always invited at J. Michael Morrow Nursing Home. Bring the children to see the beautiful Christmas decorations!